This morning I helped buried a long standing family friend . The family had asked me to give the sermon and speak on behalf of the family .
Her son and I pretty much grew up together from the time we were both about 5 years old .He is my best friend . This lady was the salt of the earth .... As good as it gets in life .
She and her husband raised 2 boys and half the kids in the area seemed to always be hanging around . One son has worked hard and is a responsible adult . The other is a total disaster .
As I stood there listening to others sharing their thoughts ,I took the time to really look at the two brothers and their families .My mind started to think back through the years .... My best friend ,the younger brother, has worked hard all his life ,raised a family and his kids who are now adults and have done well also . They have never been trouble makers or in jail .
The older brother was there as well ....in cut off shorts , t-shirt and flip flops . Most of his family was dressed according, except for one son .
The oldest one who was raised by the lady whose funeral I was attending and speaking at .He was dressed very nicely . She had ended up raising that boy until he became a man and he in turn has made something out of his life too, never got in trouble and never been in jail . All his brothers and sisters have spent more time in jail than out .
One family , two brothers , raised by the same parents and as different as night and night .
Without even knowing what the future holds ,I can tell you that the older brother and his children will continue to get in trouble , and continue to mooch off of the welfare system to keep from working . When his kids have their own children, which some are now doing ,they also will head down the wrong road .
I can really see how the right mentor can make a huge difference in a young persons life and this family is a perfect example .
There is just one thing that bothers me ........
It just seems odd to me that one brother could turn out one way and the other would be so opposite in all ways yet they were raised the same way and by the same standards
I know it happens everyday in families but its sure seems strange .
I mean think of it .... you plant two identical seeds from the same pod . You water them the same amount every day . You feed them and encourage them to grow the same amount every day . One seed grows straight a tall and the other never seems to spout or grow straight ...............
I wish I could come up with a logical answer .
Her son and I pretty much grew up together from the time we were both about 5 years old .He is my best friend . This lady was the salt of the earth .... As good as it gets in life .
She and her husband raised 2 boys and half the kids in the area seemed to always be hanging around . One son has worked hard and is a responsible adult . The other is a total disaster .
As I stood there listening to others sharing their thoughts ,I took the time to really look at the two brothers and their families .My mind started to think back through the years .... My best friend ,the younger brother, has worked hard all his life ,raised a family and his kids who are now adults and have done well also . They have never been trouble makers or in jail .
The older brother was there as well ....in cut off shorts , t-shirt and flip flops . Most of his family was dressed according, except for one son .
The oldest one who was raised by the lady whose funeral I was attending and speaking at .He was dressed very nicely . She had ended up raising that boy until he became a man and he in turn has made something out of his life too, never got in trouble and never been in jail . All his brothers and sisters have spent more time in jail than out .
One family , two brothers , raised by the same parents and as different as night and night .
Without even knowing what the future holds ,I can tell you that the older brother and his children will continue to get in trouble , and continue to mooch off of the welfare system to keep from working . When his kids have their own children, which some are now doing ,they also will head down the wrong road .
I can really see how the right mentor can make a huge difference in a young persons life and this family is a perfect example .
There is just one thing that bothers me ........
It just seems odd to me that one brother could turn out one way and the other would be so opposite in all ways yet they were raised the same way and by the same standards
I know it happens everyday in families but its sure seems strange .
I mean think of it .... you plant two identical seeds from the same pod . You water them the same amount every day . You feed them and encourage them to grow the same amount every day . One seed grows straight a tall and the other never seems to spout or grow straight ...............
I wish I could come up with a logical answer .